Scepticism over Kremlin’s pledges weigh on London indexes March 30, 2022 A push back from western nations on the validity of Russia pledging to roll back its assault on Ukraine drove a mixed day for London’s top indexes today. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index climbed 0.55 per cent to 7,578.75 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, dropped 1.02 per cent to 21,272.47 points. [...]
Raising taxes on working people is ‘bananas’, economists warn March 30, 2022 Raising taxes on working people while shielding other forms of income from levies is “bananas,” according to a top wonk’s analysis of chancellor Rishi Sunak’s spring statement. Hiking employers and employees national insurance contributions 1.25 percentage points in April instead of using income tax to raise revenue is the “opposite of what everybody thinks we [...]
1 Minute Market Rundown – 30th March 2022 March 30, 2022 | City Talk Russia – Ukraine de-escalation?Asian Stocks higherCrypto consolidates Risk continues to trade firm overnight and this morning as the market begins to see the path of least resistance as a de-escalation in geopolitical risks from the Ukraine invasion. It would take a brave person to say we are completely out of the woods but it is [...]
Johnson says he is tax cutter, despite hiking tax burden to 70-year high March 30, 2022 Boris Johnson has claimed he and Rishi Sunak are “tax-cutting Conservatives”, despite the pair hiking the UK’s tax burden to its highest level since the 1950s over the past two years. Sunak oversaw cuts to fuel duty and National Insurance last week as a part of his economic spring statement last week, while also announcing [...]
Investors should stop listening to Bank of England’s rate guidance, deputy governor says March 30, 2022 Investors should stop listening to the Bank of England’s guidance on the path of interest rates, a member of the central bank’s rate setting committee said today. Ben Broadbent, a deputy governor on the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee, sent a signal to investors urging them to stop taking their signals so seriously. Central banks issue [...]
Hong Kong’s Covid-19 battle has ‘brain drained’ economy as house prices are forecast to fall March 30, 2022 While some restrictions are due to be eased next month, Hong Kong’s battle with Covid-19 will fuel a shrinking economy and plunging house prices, according to Goldman Sachs economists. House prices are forecast to fall around 20 per cent over the next four years, falling five per cent every year, while mortgage rates are expected [...]
Retailers lead the way in London after industrials give up gains March 29, 2022 High street retailers lifted London’s top indexes today despite a sharp drop in oil prices prompting investors to ditch industrial giants. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index climbed 0.86 per cent to reach 7,537.25 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index surged two per cent to 21,491.97 points. Traders are seemingly upbeat about the [...]
US Federal Reserve to move twice as quick at next meeting March 29, 2022 The world’s most influential central bank will hike interest rates by more than double the amount it usually does at its next meeting to send a strong signal that it is serious about taming red hot inflation. The US Federal Reserve will lift the world’s most important interest rate 50 basis points on 4 May, [...]
Recessionary threads begin to weave through present economic landscape March 29, 2022 This week, Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey warned this year’s energy shock will be bigger than any seen during the 1970s. The ripple effects on consumers from soaring energy bills has sparked a wave of economists to slash this year’s growth forecasts on concerns spending will be knocked by a steep fall in living [...]
Brits splash on the plastic to uphold spending amid cost of living squeeze March 29, 2022 Brits are scrambling to take on debt to maintain spending amid one of the tightest cost of living crises in a generation, new figures released today reveal. Soaring prices and weak pay growth are making it tougher for households to maintain their existing lifestyles, strengthening incentives to use credit cards to plug budget gaps. Data [...]